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ASEAN PEOPLES' SUMMIT DECLARATION

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ASEAN PEOPLES'SUMMIT DECLARATION<br>
<br>
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We, the participants to the ASEAN Peoples' Summit held in manila on
November 26, 1999 coming from various non-governmental human rights and
development organizations and peoples' organizations, would like to
declare:<br>
<br>
That we recognize with pride and encouragement the peoples' collective
struggle that sets the trend for democratization that is now sweeping the
region, resulting in an independent East Timor and new leadership in
Indonesia.<br>
<br>
That while we recognize these initial political changes, the accompanying
economic reforms have yet to benefit the region's preoccupation with
their own selfish and vested interests. Consequently, this means the
utter disregard for their constituencies's fundamental freedoms, basic
needs and human and peoples' rights.<br>
<br>
That while the ASEAN has opened its borders and resources to foreign
market forces in order to keep pace with globalization, the ASEAN peoples
have been made vulnerable to exploitation and repression and their
sources and means of subsistence depleted and destroyed.<br>
<br>
That by its policy of non-intervention in the affairs of its individual
members, the ASEAN generally since its formation in 1967 has not only
been unrepresentative of its peoples but has also been unresponsive to
their basic demands;<br>
<br>
That the ASEAN peoples have asserted their rights and freedoms, and have
grown in strength and sophistication enough to engage ASEAN governments
in political processes that have replaced and will render undemocratic
and intolerant administrations irrelevant;<br>
<br>
That regionalization should not only be based on economic cooperation but
must be founded within the framework of human rights and democratic
principles;<br>
<br>
Gathered here together as Peoples' Summit in parallel to the
3</font><font size=3D1><sup>rd</font></sup><font size=3D3> ASEAN Informal
Summit, we therefore state the following demands:<br>
<br>
For the ASEAN governments to integrate human rights into their policies
and national agenda, to adopt international standards of human rights in
shaping national legislation, and promote human rights as a basis of
regional integration and cooperation;<br>
<br>
For the ASEAN to set up regional and national human rights mechanisms
that will ensure the governments' obligation to promote and respect their
constituencies' human rights;<br>
<br>
For the ASEAN to review its membership and standards for membership so
that illegitimate states with deplorable human rights records, like the
military junta in Burma, will not continue to compromise the
association's pursuit on human rights and will not tarnish its image
before the international community;<br>
<br>
And for ASEAN, by taking responsibility for taking in Burma as a full
member, to provide refuge and assist in all ways possible all Burmese
citizens who are displaced and forced to become refugees in neighboring
countries;<br>
<br>
That the ASEAN, to make up for its silent complicity in Indonesian's
suppression of rights and exploitation of resources in East Timor in the
last 24years, must make amends by providing humanitarian aid and
supporting reconstruction efforts in East Timor;<br>
<br>
For the ASEAN to ensure that economic cooperation means the alleviation
of the impoverished majority of the ASEAN peoples, where the rights of
vulnerable groups like women and children are protected, through
appropriate legislation and the provision of actual social=20
services;<br>
<br>
For the new Indonesian government to respect and uphold the right to
self-determination of the peoples of Aceh and West Papua. <br>
<br>
ASEAN was formed to advance the interests of the people in the region.
ASEAN should be responsive to its peoples' needs and demands now. <br>
<br>
The ASEAN peoples are now shaping their own future, ensuring that their
rights and freedoms are protected and upheld. <br>
<br>
Done this 27</font><font size=3D1><sup>th</font></sup><font size=3D3> day of
November, 1999 at the City of Manila, Philippines. <br>
<br>
Alternative ASAEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma)=A0
Thailand/Regional<br>
Amnesty International-Pilipinas (AI-Pilipinas)-=20
Philippines/Regional<br>
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)-
Thailand/Regional<br>
Asian Network for Democracy in Indonesia (ANDI)- Indonesia<br>
Asia-Pacific Coalition for East Timor (APCET)- Philippine/Regional<br>
National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT)- East Timor<br>
National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)=A0 Burma<br>
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)=A0 Philippines<br>
Solidarity for Indonesian Democracy (SOLID)- Indonesia<br>
Solidarity for Peace in East Timor (SOLIDAMOR)- Indonesia<br>
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFD)=A0 Philippines<br>
Union for Civil Liberty (UCL)=A0 Thailand<br>
Working Group for Asia-Pacific Affairs (WGAPA)=A0 Philippines<br>
<br>
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